The San Jose Sharks hit the NHL All-Star break playing some of their best hockey in years. The Sharks have earned at least a point in 10 consecutive (8-0-2) games for the first time since 2011.
You probably already know most of this because.... A. I've mentioned it before, and B. It's a pretty big deal that has saved the season for San Jose.
The Sharks will enjoy six days off before heading to Anaheim for the first of a four-game trip. When they resume action they will sit in second place in the Pacific. That's a notion that seemed highly unlikely even a few weeks ago. Thankfully the Pacific Division was not very good in the first half. The Sharks hung around long enough before finally making the move back up the standings.
There have been several factors that have led to this 180 and go far beyond a mediocre division.
For me I have to give credit to....and I can't believe I'm doing this...to Pete Deboer and his staff.
I have a love/hate relationship with Deboer. Pete has always been a players coach. His teams love playing for him. Players love his system and his coaching style. The Sharks are no different. Deboer's problems have always stemmed from the X's and O's portion of his job. In New Jersey he seemed to second-guess himself all the time. He shuffled lines to a fault and seemed unable to embrace a much-needed infusion of youth into the Devils lineup. He lacked the ability to set a lineup that made his team even a little competitive.
I think he may have learned a thing or two from his time in New Jersey and San Jose is the benefiting from it. Deboer has found a way to get the Sharks back on track with his line tinkering.
Back in January he shifted an under performing Tomas Hertl to the top line with Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski. The line has been one of the hottest in the league since the switch. Hertl is finally producing consistently with six goals and five assists during the 10-game point streak and I have been gushing about Pavelski and Thornton non-stop because of the incredible numbers they are putting up.
And when Logan Couture returned from injury Deboer opted not to reunite him with Patrick Marleau. Instead he split them up restoring balance to the force....er....to the lineup. The Sharks strength up the middle is on par with the NHL's elite.
But, perhaps the most underrated move made by PDB?
Pairing Brent Burns with Paul Martin. At least that's what Burns told Eric Gilmore of NHL.com.
"To have that consistency is huge. He's a really, really smart player that reads off of not only me, but I think he reads the game really well. It's been great. Last year going back to 'D' was hard. I was having different partners a lot. Whatever. It's kind of what happens. It's fun in a way because you get different energy. It makes you excited to have a different guy. But this year it's been nice. I come to the rink and I know I'm playing with Marty."
Burns is having a very good season. He is on pace for career highs in goals and assists. He is able to be more involved in the offense and less of a defensive liability because he has Martin back there. Martin is a smart defenseman and his presence alone has reshaped Burns' game. I loved Martin when he was with the Devils and his departure to Pittsburgh was a huge blow to New Jersey's defense. Fortunately for Burns and Deboer, he's a Shark now.
So, yes I give Pete a lot of the credit for his teams turnaround.and I fully expect to see this team back in the playoffs. I just hope Deboer doesn't go back to over thinking things and resort back to bad habits in the seasons final 36 games because I will be quick to point the finger right back the other way. You know...because of the whole love/hate thing I have.
thanks for reading, Steve